Electrolytic apparatus.



electrodes and WILLIAME. GREENAWALT, 01? DENVER, COLORADO.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented une 13, 1916.

Application filed August 28, 1913. Serial No. 787,139.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, WILLIAM E. GREENA- \VALT, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Impror ements in Electrolytic Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention represents a modification of my application, Serial No. 665,742, filed December 14, 1911, and has for its more immediate object the employment of vertical exceedingly large current, so that large units may be employed and the floor space correspondingly diminished. By this invention high cathode and anode efliciencies may be realized, the disintegration of the anodes reduced to a very small amount, and the deleterious reactions of the ferric and ferrous salts reduced to a minimum.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus, Fig. 2 the corresponding plan, Fig. 3 a transverse section, Fig. 4 a detail section of the preferred construction of the ellectrolyte cell, and Fig. 5 the corresponding p an.

In the figures 1 represents a tank containing the electrolyte, in which is suspended the electrode cell 2, by the flexible suspenders 9, from the beams 8, supported by the posts 7 The anode bell is arranged so as to oscillate when actuated by the mechanism 10, which may be a driving rod attached to a crank or eccentric mounted on a shaft, and driven by a pulley 11.

' electrode cell, 3 the diaphragm, and

in detail in Figs.

The electrode bell, or cell, is preferably constructed by bolting diaphragms 3 to the pieces composing the sides of the cell 4. The 'diaphragms 3, are composed of mullioned frames between which is sandwiched the diaphragm fabric. The cells may be arranged, if more than one compartment is desired, as shown in the left of Fig. 2, act more or less independently, but the preferred arrangement is shown in the right half, in ,which all the individual compartments are bolted together to act as a whole, so that the entire electrode cell may be oscillated by the mechanism 10. This is shown 4 and 5, in which 12' is the bolt, 4 the pieces composing the sides of till; pieces along the sides between which the diaso that each may phra gm and cell pieces are bolted, and which are preferably arranged to protect the bolt heads by having a portion countersunk. Into this countersunk hole or groove and covering the bolt heads is then inserted some sealing material, such as acid proof cement, hard tar, or wood, thus preventing the corrosive electrolyte from destroying the bolts. The bolt heads may also be incased in lead, and in addition the lead may be protected by an insulating paint or lacquer.

The anodes are represented by 5, and are shown as bolted together by the bar 15,

which may also act as an electrical conductor. The anodes are suspended by the rods 16, from the beams 17. They may also oscillate, but are preferred stationary. The cathodes are shown by 6, and are suspended by rods 18 from beams 19. These may also oscillate but are preferred stationary. The electrode cell is preferably oscillated from fixed pivotal points, as shown, but any other method of oscillation will accomplish the same results, greater expense. The rate of oscillation will usually vary with the current density, from 20 to oscillations per minute gives good results.

In the cathode compartment, in the bottom piece of the electrode cell, are preferably arranged openings 20, so that any non-ad- 'herent electrode material may be worked through the holes by the oscillating cell into the bottom of the electrolyte tank 21, and then removed from time to time through the but not as effectively and at pipe 22 and valve 23. Similarly, the nonadherent electrode material may be removed from the anode compartment, in ,suspension in the electrolyte, by the oscillating electrode cell and the flexible duct 24. The ordinary method of operation will be to introduce the electrolyte into the electrolyte tank and consequently into the cathode compartment of the electrode cell, from which the electrolyte may pass through the diaphragm into the anode compartment, and pass out through the flexible duct 24, which connects the oscillating electrode cell with the stationary electrolyte tank, and permits of the withdrawal of the exhausted electrolyte without coming in direct contact or mingling with the catholyte.. 7

It will be understood that it is quite immaterial which is the anode and which is the cathode compartment in the electrode cell;

or cross-pieces will the choice will be purely a matter of convenience.

The electrode accumulation in the electrolyte tank may be removed from time to time, as convenient, and the electrode material removed from the electrolyzer in suspension with the electrolyte through the flexible. duct 24 may be removed by filtration or by decantation, and if desired the clarified electrolyte may be returned to the electrolyzer.

The preferred arrangement of the apparatus is to have the diflerent compartments bolted together so thatthe electrode cell will have both anode and cathode compartments, and oscillated together in the electrolyte tank. In this way both the anolyte and catholyte are effectively agitated, and, as the catholyte passes through the diaphragm into the anode compartment and is then exhausted through the flexible tube 24: there is little chance for the ferric compounds getting back to the cathode and reducing the current efliciency, either through impoverishment of the electrolyte at the electrodes or by useless oxidation and reduction.

In some electrolytic processes, as for example in the electrolysis of copper solution with graphite or magnetite anodes, the diaphragm fabric, while always beneficial, may

be omitted, in which case the mechanical action of the apparatus will 'be much the same, and great advantage is still derived from its use. With the diaphragm fabric omitted the frames, including the mullions lytic action both at the anode and cathode and overcome many other difficulties. The agitation is effective, due largely to the cross-pieces which should be at least as close together as the amplitude of oscillation.

I claim;

1. In electrolytic apparatus, an electrolyte tank, an anode and a cathode suspended vertically within the electrolyte tank, a diaphragm separating the anode from the cathode and suspended so as to be capable of being oscillated, and means for oscillating the diaphragm within the electrolyte tank.

2. In electrolytic apparatus, an electrolyte tank, an anode and a cathode suspended vertically Within the electrolyte tank, a diaphragm separating the anode from the cathode andsuspended so as to be capable of being oscillated, and means for oscillating the diaphragm from fixed pivotal points.

3. In electrolytic apparatus, an electrolyte tank, anodes and cathodes suspended vertically within the electrolyte tank, a. diaphragm surrounding the electrodes of one sign thus forming electrode cells alternating with the electrodes of the opposite sign, means for suspending the diaphragm within act as effective agitators for the electrolyte and improve the electrothe electrolyte tank so as to be capable of being oscillated, and means for oscillating the diaphragm.

4. Inelectrolytic apparatus the combina tion of an electrolyte tank containing the electrolyte and vertical cathodes, a vertical anode suspended within the electrolyte tank and independently of the cathodes, a' diaphragm suspended within the electrolyte tank independently of the electrodes and capable of being oscillated, and means for oscillating the diaphragm independently of the electrodes and the electrolyte tank.

5. In electrolytic apparatus the combination of an electrolyte tank containing the electrolyte and vertical cathodes, anodes suspended within the electrolyte tank, a diaphragm completely surrounding the anode thus forming an anode cell, means for oscillating the diaphragm, and means for withdrawing the anolyte without mingling with the catholyte.

6. In electrolytic apparatus, a vertical anode and a vertical cathode suspended within the electrolyte tank, a diaphragm separating the anode from the cathode, and means for moving the diaphragm through the electrolyte 1n the electrolyte tank.

7. In electrolytic apparatus the combination of an electrolyte tank, an anode and a cathode suspended within the electrolyte tank, a diaphragm separating the electrodes, means for oscillating the diaphragm through the electrolyte in the electrolyte tank, and means for withdrawing the electrolyte from the space inclosed by the diaphragm without mingling with the electrolyte in the electrolyte tank.

8. In electrolytic apparatus the combination of an electrolyte tank, an anode and a cathode suspended within the electrolyte tank, a diaphragm and diaphragm frame inclosing the electrodes thus forming anode and cathode compartments, said diaphragm frame having openings in the bottom communicating with the electrolyte tank for the removal of the non-adherent electrode material, means for oscillating the diaphragm Within the electrolyte tank, and means for withdrawing the electrolyte from the space inclosed by the diaphragm without mingling with the electrolyte in the electrolyte tank.

9. In electrolytic apparatus the combination of an electrolyte tank, a stationary anode, a stationary cathode, a diaphragm and diaphragm frame separating the electrodes thus forming anode and cathode compartments suspended within the electrolyte tank, and means for oscillating the diaphragm and diaphragm frame.

10. In electrolytic apparatus the combination of an electrolyte tank, a stationary anode, a stationary cathode, a diaphragm and diaphragm frame separating the anode from the cathode said diaphragm frame ,rality of anodes and cathodes,

having means for permitting the non-adherent electrode material to pass from the electrodes to the electrolyte tank, and means for oscillating the diaphragm and diaphragm frame.

11. In electrolytic apparatus having a plua plurality of frames having cross-pieces interposed between the electrodes and bolted together to act as a whole, and means of oscillating said frames and cross-pieces from fixed pivotal points. v

12. In electrolytic apparatus, frames having vertical cross-pieces; side pieces, on a line with the electrodes, interposed between the frames; means of securing the frames to the side pieces, and means of oscillating the framesand cross pieces from fixed pivotal points.

13. In electrolytic apparatus frames having vertical cross-pieces interposed between the electrodes; side pieces alternating with the frames; means of securing the frames to the side pieces, and means of oscillating the frames and cross pieces from fixed pivotal points. I

14. In electrolytic apparatus frames having vertical cross-pieces interposed between the electrodes; peripheral side pieces alternating with the frames; bolts securing the frames and side pieces together; means of protecting the bolt heads from the corrosive action of the electrolyte, and means of oscillating the agitator thus formed from fixed pivotal points.

15. In electrolytic apparatus a frame work completely surrounding the electrode and having vertical cross-pieces, means of oscillating said frame work and cross-pieces.

WILLIAM E. GREENAWALT.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. GIBBS, FRED. L. Soo'r'r. 

